in spring

Chapter 147 Consolation
Chunying wiped away the tears on her face, carefully raised her eyes to look at Zhou Nian, seeing that he was still looking at her with a smile on her face, her ears felt a little hot, and she whispered, "I'm sorry, I lost my temper..."

Zhou Nian shook his head: "It's okay, sit down, let's have a good talk." Then he turned back to the desk in the middle of the room, pulled a chair and sat down.

Chunying absent-mindedly sat down on the chair next to her, but suddenly stopped, hesitating whether to stand up and find another place to sit, Zhou Nian had already spoken first: "Since you were sent out of the mansion, I have I’ve been worrying all the time, I don’t know how you are doing outside, but Brother You said that he sent the most appropriate family member to take care of it, so you should be doing well, right?”

In retrospect, it's really hard to say whether those days were good or not, but Chunying admitted that most of the year outside the residence was quite pleasant, and said: "It's not bad, I was under the name of my wife's natal family at first. I lived in a shop in a shop where the shopkeeper was very nice. Later, my second uncle and I went back to his house to live in his house for more than half a year. There was a... neighbor who did some cosmetics and jewelry business, and occasionally helped others to be a middleman. I helped each other and earned some pocket money.”

Zhou Nian said with a smile: "Sounds good. You have been keen on saving money since before. You must have saved enough money for the whole family to redeem themselves?"

Chunying forced a smile: "Originally it was enough, but now... even if there is money, it is useless if my parents refuse to nod."

Zhou Nian was a little surprised: "Are your parents not willing?" He had some understanding: "Just now... you are so sad, but because of this reason?"

After Chunying heard this, the circles of her eyes started to turn red again: "My father is now in a position of importance, and I think it is better to stay in the mansion, but I am afraid that I will encounter many difficulties when I go out... I know that after leaving the country, I will have to rely on my family Find a way to make a living, unlike in the Marquis's Mansion, where you don't have to worry about food and clothing... But free people and slaves are different after all..."

Zhou Nian persuaded softly: "Your father's thinking is also reasonable, he also wants to make the life of the family more stable?"

"I know..." Chunying pouted, "But if you go out, you may not be able to make a living? When our family was poor, he would occasionally serve as a middleman to earn hard money. I have been out for a year, I helped my neighbor, Brother Xiao Fei, to do business, and met a lot of merchants from other places. They come to the capital several times a year to sell goods. I know their names and where they live, and they recognize me. Even if Dad can’t find a job , relying on these merchants alone is enough to make ends meet..." Shopkeeper Shi's contacts can also be used, even if his father is not as articulate as Brother Xiaofei, the silver he earns every year is a half discount, and there are dozens of taels, which is enough for their whole family Live a well-off life.

Zhou Nian thought for a while and asked, "These words... didn't you tell your father?"

"I mentioned it a little bit, but it's useless!" Chunying sniffed, "My father decided that without a backer, he would be bullied outside, and life would be impossible...I really can't do anything about him, I can't Abandon the whole family and find a way to escape by yourself?!"

"Why do you have to be obsessed with this matter?" Zhou Nian pondered for a moment, and then raised this question. Chun Ying was taken aback: "Because... because I want to be free, and I don't want others to decide my future."

"That doesn't mean you have to be expelled?" Zhou Nian said, "Compared with ordinary servants, the stewards of high-ranking households are more dignified. There are many things that you can ask the master to forgive and let them act on their own. Just now Said, your father is now in great use, so it must be worthwhile to speak in front of the master? Why do you still... still insist on leaving your citizenship? And you are still very urgent?"

Chunying was startled, calmed down and thought about it carefully, and replied: "Because I'm in a hurry... My father still needs to be reused now, but he hasn't even been officially promoted to be a steward. Even if he becomes a steward, he is only a junior steward. Those big housekeepers are still far behind, who knows if the master will listen to him? I don’t know how many years it will take to wait until he is decent enough to act independently... I am young and can afford to wait, but my sister this year Already 17 years old, it seems that she is at the age of marriage. God knows who she will be assigned to? If she is a bastard, wouldn't her life be ruined? In the future, even if our family successfully redeems us, my sister will still be a servant, and the child she gave birth to will also be a servant...Can I abandon her?"

She sniffed, and continued: "And my younger brother...he is only three years old this year, but Aunt Qing of the aunt's family has already said that he will go to study with the young master of the Huo family in two years. Aunt Qing also said If we want our whole family to serve the Huo family, why don’t I worry? How about the Huo family’s servants? Will they release them in the future? I don’t know anything about them! And myself... I’m not in Huanhua now Xuan, I'm serving Miss Huo's Biao at the Wanxiang Pavilion. I don't know how long I will serve her. Do I want to marry her? I've seen other people's families stay in the Hou's mansion, but the daughter married to other places with the lady. Aunt Qing used to be a maid in the Hou Mansion. Since she married her aunt, she hasn’t been home for more than ten years, and she has become a concubine herself! The whole family passed away, and she couldn’t come back to take a look... I’m scared... ...all things are out of my control...I don't want to be separated from my family...and I don't want others to arrange my future..." She lowered her head and wept, the veil in her hand was twisted into twists, the fear in her heart But it is getting bigger and bigger, and I always feel that these assumptions are likely to become reality.

A shadow covered her head, she looked up, it turned out to be Zhou Nian, handed over a clean cloth handkerchief, and said softly: "Don't cry, you won't encounter such unfortunate things."

Chunying took Bupa, thanked her in a low voice, bit her lips, raised her head and said, "How do you know you won't meet? This kind of thing happens everywhere in the Hou's mansion. There are several of our acquainted neighbors." The man in the family is on errands in other places, and there are two daughters who are married with Princess Jing, and they may not be able to go home once a year. My father's boss, Xiao Chen, is in charge, and his uncle and cousin are still slaves in his wife's natal family. The whole family is divided into several places, there are many such things..." She hesitated to speak, thinking that even if her family was redeemed, the second uncle was going to leave with the young master, so it was considered a separation of flesh and blood.

Zhou Nian smiled faintly: "These things are all decided by the master of the Hou Mansion, aren't they? Brother You is the future master of the Hou Mansion. As long as he speaks, what are you afraid of?"

Chunying's heart moved at first, but then she shook her head quickly: "He is still a child now, and he has to listen to Mrs. Hou Ye's ideas in everything. It will take a few years until he becomes the master of the house."

"Then I'm not a child, am I?"

Chun Ying was stunned: "You?"

"It's me." Zhou Nian smiled and sat back in his seat, "Have you forgotten what I promised you back then? When my family is rehabilitated, Brother You will give your family to me. It will interfere with your family's affairs, and if you want to quit your citizenship, I will readily nod."

Chunying was pleasantly surprised, how could she forget about this matter?He hurriedly said: "Yes, yes! You promised me!" She believed that Zhou Nian would not violate the contract, and she was relieved immediately, but immediately became nervous: "Then...Master Nian, when will your family be rehabilitated? I remember Before you left the Hou Mansion, you already had good news, right?"

Zhou Nian nodded with a smile: "Two adults have been rehabilitated. They are all close friends of my father. I think the good news is not far away. Lord Hou told me to stay calm and wait for the right time."

Chunying showed joy on her face: "That's great!" After saying that, she felt a little ashamed: "I'm sorry... I seem to have been talking about myself, but I forgot to ask how you are doing..."

Zhou Nian was not angry, but his eyes were a bit sad: "Me? It's nothing. I left the capital within a month after you left the house...First I arrived at the border of Shandong...Hou Ye opened the way to replace me. I rescued the saltworks, and plan to exchange it on the way back..." He paused, bowed his head in silence for a while, and then continued, "That man...has lost half of his life from torture, and the doctor has spent a lot of effort, Only then did he survive to the agreed place... I have never seen such a thin person! Thinking that if it hadn't been for Lord Hou to save me, I would be what I am today, and I might not even be able to support it for so many years! And that person... Ben He was an innocent child who voluntarily became my substitute for the sake of filial piety... His father passed away after only three years in the saltworks, but he was still struggling there... When he was dying, he only wanted to see his family again... ..."

His eyes were red and his voice was trembling. It seemed that there was endless grief buried in his heart, but he couldn't vent it.Chunying also blushed, and hurriedly handed over the cloth handkerchief.He squeezed out a forced smile, took the handkerchief, and continued: "Unfortunately, he didn't have time. Fortunately, someone from Lord Hou brought news of his family, saying that his mother married a carpenter from the Hejian Mansion. Another son was born, and life is going well. His sister married a small businessman three years ago, and already has a son and a daughter... He smiled and closed his eyes, and thanked me, but I didn't even I don't even know his name... To hide his burial, he was buried at night, and there is no monument on the grave... I feel that I have committed a heinous crime! For me, I have killed him all his life. I kept my name incognito, but with his help, I returned to the capital openly..."

Chun Ying hurriedly said: "No, you were still young at that time, how did you know this? You are not leading the whole thing, you are just obeying the arrangement!"

Zhou Nian shook his head: "If it wasn't for me, Master Hou would never have found him...he was a child...he was a bit like me...he suffered for me in the salt field, and I don't have to worry about food and clothing in the Hou's mansion, except that I can't Going out casually, receiving occasional sarcasm from Li Chang, and pampering me all the time, but I still feel that I have been wronged... What face do I have to say such a thing?! Looking back, countless people were convicted, and even my closest relatives were exiled In a remote place, I have stayed in the capital all the time, and it is a great blessing to be protected by the Marquis! But apart from thinking about them occasionally, and lamenting that the person who replaced me is pitiful, what else have I done? Abandoning myself, living a decadent life... I should be the one who deserves to be damned!"

He clenched his fist and punched his chest vigorously, Chunying hurriedly stopped him, and advised: "Don't do this, it's not your fault, you are all wronged, aren't you? After all, you were still a child back then, what could you do? Why blame yourself so much? "

"But I'm ashamed to see them!" Zhou Nian said excitedly, "I live a hundred times better than them, but I still dare to complain. If you hadn't reminded me, how could I remember that someone was suffering for me? I It's because I've lived comfortably for so long that I've even forgotten the principles of life that my father taught me, even if I rehabilitate him in the future, how can I have the face to see him?!"

Chunying held his arm tightly to prevent him from hurting herself again: "Even if you hurt yourself now, what's the use?!"

Zhou Nian was stunned, and then he was discouraged: "Yeah... everyone is dead..."

"That's not what I meant." Chunying stared at him, "The person who served you is dead, but the others are still alive. What you should do is to rescue them! And that person's family, you have to do your best." The best way to take care of him is not through the Marquis Mansion, but by your own strength. Don't you want to...do something for him?"

Zhou Nian looked at her for a long time, then calmed down, closed his eyes, and murmured: "Chun'er..."

(Re-edited in the middle of writing... oh... sorry...)
(End of this chapter)